(Bluefield)—Dr. Tesfaye Belay received the prestigious “Outstanding Leadership in Faculty Research” award during the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s Annual Member Universities Professional Institute & Exhibition Conference in New Orleans, LA. Dr. Belay, an Associate Professor of Biology at BSC, was one of only three faculty members from all Thurgood Marshall member institutions throughout the nation to be selected for the faculty research award.

“The award was presented for leadership and management skills, innovation and creativity in a project or program that was challenging in nature,” noted Dr. Albert Walker, BSC President. Through Dr. Belay’s grant writing and research initiatives, Bluefield State College has received more than $180,000 in research-related funding during the past three years, and his students’ research posters have been accepted for inclusion and displayed at regional and national research conferences.

The BSC faculty member noted that the involvement of BSC’s undergraduates in research serves to prepare, motivate, encourage and support the College’s students—particularly underrepresented minority students—to become involved in biomedical research. “It has been a true joy for me to watch our students grow into skilled researchers,” he added. “I have seen our students, all of whom are very intelligent, get the opportunity to succeed, and I have watched them move on to graduate school, medical school, and additional research endeavors.”

After receiving the award from Thurgood Marshall College Fund President Dwayne Ashley, Dr. Belay said, “I am thrilled to have been recognized at this national conference, and I am very grateful that Bluefield State College nominated me for this honor.”